SEPTA on Strike

By KAREN ARAIZA

Updated 12:43 PM EST, Thu, Nov 5, 2009

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SEPTA's largest union -- Transport Workers Union Local 234 -- walked off the job and hit the picket lines early Tuesday morning shutting down public transportation in the city.

NOT running:

NO city buses
NO city trolleys
NO Broad Street Subway
NO Market-Frankford EL
NO Frontier Division bus routes

Regional rails and ParaTransit are running and you can get more details from the SEPTA Strike Guide.

SEPTA Union Strike "Ambush" is "Unacceptable"

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SEPTA Union Strike "Ambush" is "Unacceptable"

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Q: Whose Side are You Taking on the Strike?

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Q: Have You Lost Faith in SEPTA?

Lines ran long and tensions high as commuters waited to board packed trains Tuesday. "I've been in line for about 25 minutes in the wrong line before somebody could tell me what line I should be in, " said frustrated rider Brian Brennan.

Negotiations broke down shortly after midnight over the basic issues -- salary and benefits, primarily pensions.

Governor Ed Rendell said it was irresponsible for the union to walk off the job in the wee hours of the morning, leaving commuters stranded in the morning.

TWA leader Willie Brown said Local 234 wasn't offered a fair deal and "fudged the numbers."

Rendell and Mayor Nutter said the union had a good package on the table, including an 11-percent wage increase over five years, and 11-percent increase in pension contributions and workers would not be required to pay any more for health coverage.

Brown said SEPTA management and negotiators were "fudging the numbers" on a four-year contract that included no raise for the first two years and a two-percent increase for the next two years. The union wants SEPTA to contribute more to workers' pensions and a four-percent wage increase each year.

First Published: Nov 3, 2009 7:01 AM EST

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0 Comments

{"totSize":131,"payload_type":"json","status":"1","results":[{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396494_68836872","adminTags":null,"views":1392,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"SEPTA on Strike","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2630606,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"3 Nov 2009 12:13:09 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1171788","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Good for them. Although it is a nightmare for the ordinary citizen, it is important that unions fight for fair wages & benefits. People don't understand that unions make working conditions better for everone no matter what kind of job you do. Could you imagine a transit system where there weren't protections in place? Dangerous travel for all who take to the Philadelphia streets, whether through transit, cars, bikes or on foot. People have a right to fair wages and benefits. . . <br />If you don't like it, unionize your place of work or get the proper training and find a career that has union labor. (And, before anyone jumps down my throat, I don't work for SEPTA)"},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396494_68836872","adminTags":null,"views":1392,"createdBy":14041292,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"SEPTA on Strike","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2630606,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"3 Nov 2009 12:24:52 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"Robyn43","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1171839","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"How many millions of dollars do you think the average CEO makes? Who do you think is more exhausted at the end of a work day, some corporate fat cat or a guy who's been driving a bus for 10 hours?<br />I would NOT have the patience or fortitude to deal with jerks and traffic all day long to drive a trolley.<br />These people work hard to ensure the safety of many, many people everyday and they should be treated well and paid accordingly.<br />I have to try to find a ride to get to work soon. It is going to suck. BUT I STILL SUPPORT THE SEPTA WORKERS."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396494_68836872","adminTags":null,"views":1392,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"SEPTA on Strike","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2630606,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"3 Nov 2009 12:30:29 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1171857","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"The Septa City union should be ashamed to have postponed a strike in order to make money off the World Series. There are adults and students who depend on Septa to get to and from school and work. Teachers don't make as much as Septa workers and are held accountable if students don't succeed (parents aren't even held accountable for their own children in the school setting).Septa workers are only held accountable for staying on a time schedule. Many of Septa's employees have poor customer service skills and ignore riders when concerns arise. Teachers are in need of a new contract as well and cannot strike at all. I'm pretty sure a teacher's work day is harder than a bus or trolley driver. Teachers and Septa employees should switch careers for a week. "},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396494_68836872","adminTags":null,"views":1392,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"SEPTA on Strike","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2630606,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"3 Nov 2009 12:39:41 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1171896","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"You have got to be kidding me. 11% increase over 5 years for both salary AND pension?!? Who gets pensions anymore? And no worker contribution for health benefits? Seriously, Rendell needs to fire them all and bring in non-union workers with competitive wages. That or do what most other states do and put a prohibition on the transportation workers from going on strike. I am embarrassed that our world-class city is brought to its knees by greed time and time again."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396494_68836872","adminTags":null,"views":1392,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"SEPTA on Strike","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2630606,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"3 Nov 2009 12:56:10 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1171974","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"ROBYN43, Are you really comparing a corporate CEO to a SEPTA driver? By your comparison, SEPTA drivers should be qualified to run corporations because they work long hours. Your argument is fallacious, you're comparing apples to oranges. Sure Septa drivers work hard but there are just as many CEO's who do. Also, there are as many rude SEPTA drivers as there are bad CEO'. I support peoples need for a decent wage and benefits but I don't know if it was that responsible to go on strike hours before the commute. "}],"error":"","totPages":27}